Discus.



E. M. BURR.

' msous.

ILED MAR.30, 1911.

Patented 0ct.24,1911.

@m57 4 4. www. v ,U 7 2 7@ 9 m f ff 1 F NL n UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLIS IVI. BURR, OF CI-IAIVIIAIGN, ILLINOIS.

DISCUS.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ELLIS M. BURR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Champaign, in the county of Champaign and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Disci, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a discus provided with simple and novel means for balancing the same.

An important object of this invention is to provide balancing means for a discus which will not work loose or be liable to displacement.

A further object of this invention is to produce a discus provided with balancing means, the entire device being simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, and durable.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the discus may be accurately balanced radially.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a plan view of the discus, a portion thereof being shown in section, Fig. 2 is a diametrical cross-sectional view taken through the discus and showing the washers or balancing members'positioned so that the discus will be in a state of equipoise, Fig. 3 is a similar view showing` the balancing members positioned so that the discus is unbalanced, Fig. 4; is an inner 'plan view of one of the end plates, and Fig. 5 is a side view of one of the balancing members, shown as having a portion of its material cut away.

In the drawings wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the body portion of the discus and is in the form of a ring provided with a central opening or cavity 2. The body portion 1 tapers in thickness toward its periphery so that the discus may have the usual shape. The body portion l is provided upon its periphery with a metal rim 3, such rim being preferably secured to the body portion 1 by having screw-threaded 4engagement therewith, as shown at 4. The opening 2 is preferably formed cylindrical and is counter-bored at its opposite Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led March 30, 1911.

Patented Oct. 24, 1911. Serial No. 617,800.

ends, as shown at 5, for the reception of removable end plates 6, the outer faces of which are shaped to correspond to the curvature of the outer faces of the body port-ion l. These end plates are preferably formed circular, as shown, and are provided upon their inner faces with lugs or teeth 7, which are adapted to be sunk within the end walls of the counter-bore 5, to prevent the rotation of the end plates 6 with relation to the body portion l. The end plates 6 are provided inwardly of and adjacent the teeth 7, with recesses 7, for a purpose to be described. One of the end plates 6 is provided with an opening formed centrally therethrough for receiving a screw 8 or pin, having its head disposed within a counterbore which leads into the last named opening, whereby the head of the screw is flush with the outer face of the end plate 6. The other end plate 6 is provided with a screwthreaded opening formed centrally therethrough for receiving the screw-threaded end 9 of said screw.

Disposed within the opening 2 and upon the screw 8 are a plurality of preferably circular washers or balancing members or -plates l0, which are formed of a substance having a high specific gravity, such as lead, iron, or the like. Each of these balancing members 10 is shown in Fig. 5 as having its periphery provided with diametrically arranged cut-out portions 10, for -receiving locking members 11, the ends of which tit within the recesses 7. The balancing members 10 have central openings l()a formed therethrough to receive the screw 8 and are capable of being moved longitudinally of the screw 8 and the locking members 11', but said locking members prevent the rotation of the balancing members 10 with relation to the body portion l. The screw 8 carries a compressible coil spring 11, which operates against the balancing members l0, as shown. The function of this spring is to hold the balancing members against accidental movement and exert a continuous pressure against the end plates 6, whereby the screw 8 cannot have accidental rotation and work loose, when the device is subjected to jars.

When the balancing members or plates 10 are arranged, as shown in Fig. 2, the discus is in a state of equipoise, there being an equal number of the balancing members upon opposite ends of the spring 11. It is often desirable to have one side of the discus heavier than the other, and for accomplishing this result a greater number of the balancing members 10 are disposed adjacent one end of the spring 11, as shown in Figj, The balancing of the Vdiscus may be properly adjusted to meet the requirements of the individual player, since there may be any suitable number of balancing members 10, which may be arranged as required. It is very important to have the discus balanced or in a state of equipoise in a direction radial to the discus, and therefore any suitable number of the balancing members 10 may be cut along a chord 12', as shown in Fig. 5.

I wish it understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a. preferred example of. the same, and that certain changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A discus of the character described, comprising a body portion provided with an opening, a substantially circular balancing plate mounted in the opening, said balancing plate having a section of its material near its periphery cut away to balance the discus radially, means to normally prevent the plate from moving longitudinally of the opening, and means to prevent said plate Jfrom rotating in the opening.

2. A discus of the character described, comprising a body portion provided with an opening, a balancing plate disposed within the opening and having a portion of its material near its periphery cut away to balance the discus radially, and means to hold the plate in its requisite .position within the opening.

3. A discus comprising a body portion provided with an opening formed therethrough, removable plates for closing the opening and carrying teeth to engage the body portion to prevent the rotation of said plates with relation to said body portion, a screw connecting the plates for holding the same in place, a plurality of washers mounted upon the screw, and a compressible coil spring mounted upon the screw and disposed between said washers.

4. A discus comprising a body portion provided with an opening formed therethrough, end plates for closing the opening and provided with means to engage said body portion to prevent their rotation with relation to said body portion, a member locking the end plates together, a plurality of members connected with the end plates near their peripheries, balancing members mounted upon the iirst named member and having its periphery .provided with cut-out portions for receiving the plurality of members, and a spring disposed between said balancing members.

5. A discus of the character described, comprising a body portion provided with a substantially central opening, an end plate closing one end of the opening and provided with means to engage said body portion to prevent the rotation of the end plate with relation to said body portion, a pin extending through said opening and holding the end plate in place, a plurality of balancing plates movably mounted upon the pin, a spring mounted upon the pin to yieldingly hold the balancing plates in position, at least'one of the balancing plates having a section of its material near the periphery cut away to balance the discus radially, and rigid means connecting the endl plate and the balancing plates to prevent the latter from rotating with relation to the former.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELLIS M. BURR.

Witnesses L. R. GULLEY, CHAS. M. WALKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

